Violent clashes erupt between army, rapid support forces in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan

Violent clashes had erupted between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Fasher, north Darfur, in western Sudan, Sudanese activists said Friday.

“Violent clashes between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces with heavy weapons and artillery,” the Al-Fasher Resistance Committee said in a statement.

The statement pointed out that “heavy artillery shells fell randomly on citizens’ houses, leading to several injuries.”

There has been no comment from the Sudanese army or the RSF on the statement as of yet.

Since early April, clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF have been ongoing.

Al-Fasher is the capital of North Darfur State, the center of the Darfur region, and the only city that has not fallen into the hands of the RSF.

There have been increasing international and UN calls to spare Sudan a humanitarian catastrophe that could push millions into famine and death due to food shortages caused by fighting.

Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RFS have been waging a war that has left about 15,000 dead and more than 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the UN.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul